Am incredibly surprised by the preconception here. By the looks of it people think that anyone who streams does it for money/hopes of forming an audience to get money in the future. Complete nonsense. Streaming is fun, while some actually do it for money, others do it for fun, same applies to any activity. Some play football to have fun with friends or to exercise, some play football with hopes of professional future.

Streaming is a social experience, also people who have facecam are most often more interesting to watch because you can see how they interact with the viewer, eg. Hand/head movements. It's really the same as talking to a friend, do you feel more comfortable listening to a "wall" or their actual face?

The potential for internet celebrity-ism. Most people think that they are a lot more interesting than they are. They're generally not of course but this is an area where ego blinds people to the fact that they are basically just ordinary and not really that special. Combine all of that with the belief that you're hot stuff at game X or Y and there you go.

On the flip side of this, there are a few people who are genuinely interested in doing educational things like tutorials and guides. Those are better left to prepared videos though than streaming.

Mostly it's the first paragraph.

EDIT: Just to be clear, this has nothing to do with those who stream for friends or purely social reasons. That's fine.

I don't really get it either. If someone's good enough to be considered professional, that's one thing, but other than that I just don't see the point. I guess hot girls can webcam themselves while they play and they'll get enough viewers to make money too, sadly. The only incentive I could ever see for doing it is to get constructive criticism and improve my play, but most of the time stream chat is rude far beyond constructive, so that's not even a good enough reason. I also don't see why they feel the need to show their webcam while they play. Nobody gives a crap what they look like unless they're hot girls, so why cover a quarter of the screen with themselves?

Almost every other computer people are building these days, one of their desires is to do live streaming.

My question is... what's the big draw in that?

Mind you, I personally dislike facebook, twitter, and social networking in general, and I have no desire to tell the world about every little inane thing I think and do. So maybe that's why I don't get it. I just don't see why someone would want to spend an extra $100-$300 just to livestream them playing WoW (or whatever other games).

I get why actual professionals do it. They get paid. But for 99% of the rest of the world, it seems silly to me. I'm not saying it's wrong, or stupid, I simply don't understand why.

I do it cause well for number one. it's fun for me. and its a lot easier than taking screenshots and/or adding a video up on youtube. The things I play is mostly mmo's or the Sims 3. Now picture this. If you were someone who couldn't make up your mind to invest money in a video game that you wanted but didn't know exactly how it would be. Wouldn't you like to get a glance at it through another players eyes? (maybe even a start to finish of a game) I watch some streams of people playing games just so i can see if i want to buy it or not.

Yeah, you can watch youtube videos of the game. but those are mostly always edited and things are left out ;p

Now the part that gets me is.. i don't see why people get on webcam WHILE streaming. I don't do that. and I sure as heck don't want to watch them while trying to watch the boss mechanic they are doinh

I stream because I enjoy talking to people and answering questions. I play an Elemental Shaman in a top guild, so many people have questions such as "zomg why do you play that spec!?"

Granted I have just started streaming, its fun to help others. I don't ask for donations- heck I don't even have a donation panel. Someone has asked me where it was because he wanted to toss a few my way, so I may bring one up... I just don't want to do it for money. I'm going to be playing anyways- might as well talk to people while doing it!

Some probably do it just for fun. Others probably do it for attention.

I'm not going to name and shame, but there are plenty of twitch streamers who are females that flirt with everyone in order to get donations. Now, most of them aren't even attractive by most standards yet they're piling on makeup, wearing low cut shirts and talking all cutesy to the streamers while giggling in between every other word. I can't stand it.

I'm not going to name and shame, but there are plenty of twitch streamers who are females that flirt with everyone in order to get donations. Now, most of them aren't even attractive by most standards yet they're piling on makeup, wearing low cut shirts and talking all cutesy to the streamers while giggling in between every other word. I can't stand it.

So. . . don't watch them?

I don't exactly see the problem. The women who do that sort of thing obviously enjoy it, there's obviously an audience for it, and really, you've got no place at all judging any of them for doing what they enjoy. Just. . . leave it, if it's not to your tastes.

There are, however, plenty of folks who won't do things they don't enjoy; even with the prospect of money or material gain. And if you don't enjoy being seen, making a spectacle of yourself, you won't do well streaming for donations. Even if we assume all of the overblown ranting about how 'easy' it is for 'girl gamerz' to stream for cash is true, they still don't do well if they're not into it.

I live stream my raid several days a week (as well as some occasional LoL games) because I thoroughly enjoy it. I enjoy interaction with whatever viewers I gain, plus my stream is used for guildies/raiders to watch if they are sitting out on a certain fight. I pay a fee for an XSplit license, which I don't believe is even $100 a year. It's probably why people encourage donations.

On average, I get anything from 10 viewers and peak out to ~150 viewers the night I killed H Sha. That's a lot of viewers to me, though it doesn't compare to professional streamers or gamers. I find interaction with others to be entertaining, and I always learn something from my viewers as well. I've gained a lot of friends from more progressed guilds that try to help my guild down a boss. I have become a good friend of Riggnaros just due to my streaming. It gets me, my gameplay, and my guild's name out there whether I intend to be doing so or not. There is definitely a social aspect to streaming, where if you dislike social networking or social interaction via the internet, then streaming may not be for you. Streaming is good for those who like and can handle attention (not necessarily "attention whoring"). I have friends and guildies who like streaming still when they get only 2-5 viewers, all of who are probably other guildies.

One last thing that I really enjoy about streaming is being able to watch it later. I can watch my mistakes, I can see EXACTLY what happened (did I actually screw up there? How the heck did I really die?) And also, I can see my reactions, as well as rewatch a progression kill (mmm, H Sha nerd screams!)

I do not get paid to stream. I don't even have a donation page (yet). I do have loyal viewers and friends I've made through streaming that I would have befriended no other way. I hope this gives you some insight why some people may enjoy streaming, but it is definitely not for everyone.

---------- Post added 2013-02-25 at 11:06 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Touchyfeely

Now the part that gets me is.. i don't see why people get on webcam WHILE streaming. I don't do that. and I sure as heck don't want to watch them while trying to watch the boss mechanic they are doinh

I have my webcam on while I stream, but I'll let you know I'm not a hypocrite about it. I love it when people have webcams, and I'm generally more likely to watch someone who has their webcam on. Why? I like to see the person behind the mask. I like to see people's reactions. Some people react just based on other people's reactions. Someone dies to something completely stupid? I'll likely facepalm or have a dumbfounded face.

What I don't understand are the people who make their webcams way too large where it actually covers some aspects of their UI. My webcam sits where my chat box is and no bigger, and it's a perfectly fine size in my opinion.

EDIT: I've had some guildies and friends (all male) start streaming and I'd always say "where's the webcam!" And I'm serious about it. I thoroughly enjoy people streaming with their webcams on.